A woman who lay dead in her flat for three years wrote in her diary that she was ‘starving’
A vulnerable woman who lay dead unnoticed in a social housing home for more than three years wrote in her diary of being hungry and running out of food, an inquest has heard.
The ‘mummified and almost skeletal’ remains of 38-year-old Laura Winham, who was deaf and suffered from schizophrenia, were found in her flat in Woking in May 2021. Her family, who she asked not to contact her again, claim she was “abandoned and left to die” by social and mental health services.
Earlier this week, a pathologist told the inquest at Surrey Coroner’s Court that it was impossible to determine the time of death. But a calendar in Winham’s flat had dates crossed out until November 1, 2017, the court heard.
According to extracts from her diary, read out by coroner Karen Henderson on Thursday, Winham was running low on food and money.
A message from September 28, 2017 stated: “My cell phone died on September 7th. I had a Tesco hit before it died. I’ve been sleeping for weeks… I haven’t bought food for months because I don’t know what’s happening.”
Other extracts suggested she lived on potatoes and cheese and “had about £5 left”. Another from October 2017 said: “It’s been a whole month since my last food shop. I can’t believe I survived this long.”
An excerpt dated September 15, 2017 read: “I wish I had bought rice. Dreaming of (food). Anyway, I’m hungry.”
The inquest previously heard that Winham’s family had been unable to maintain contact with her after years of mental health problems, leading her to believe they would harm her.
Both Woking Borough Council (WBC) and Surrey County Council (SCC) have changed their policies since Winham’s death, the inquest heard.
Luke Addams, director of practice, assurance and protection, at SCC told the inquest that someone from the council should have tried to visit Winham instead of communicating with her by letter. A WBC official admitted that Winham’s vulnerabilities should have been reported to the company that managed the council’s housing stock at the time.
On Wednesday the inquest also heard that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sent Winham letters in February 2016 asking him to make a claim for the new Personal Independence Allowance which replaced the Disability Allowance (DLA).
They explained that she may need to undergo medical treatment. Winham responded to the Woking district expressing alarm. She wrote: “I have been living off nothing but my savings and DLA benefits,” the court heard. These concerns were not passed on to the DWP, the court heard.
The investigation continues.